captain j. ashley roach, jagc, usn (retired) visiting ... · preview decreasing arctic ice cover...
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Captain J. Ashley Roach, JAGC, USN (retired)Visiting Senior Principal Research Fellow
Centre for International Law NUS SingaporeOffice of the Legal Adviser
U.S. Department of State (retired)Seminar on Governance of Arctic Shipping:
Recent Developments and Prospects15 November 2018
Preview Decreasing Arctic Ice Cover Law Applicable to Arctic Shipping Arctic Council National Legislation Chinese Arctic Policy
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http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/1999/09/Figure1_09232018.png
2018 Minimum Arctic Sea Ice
Arctic Routes used for International Navigation Bering Strait (Russia and USA) Northwest Passage (Canada) Northeast Passage (Northern Sea Route)
(Russian Federation) Central Arctic Ocean (“over the top”)
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Possible New Routes through Arctic Ocean: Shorter distance of around 3,900 to 4,500 nm in both the Northwest Passage and
the Northern Sea RouteSources: http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/northern-sea-route-and-the-northwest-passage-compared-
with-currently-used-shipping-routes_1336. Author: Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal;
http://www.discoveringthearctic.org.uk/images/1img_nwne_globes.jpg
Trans-Arctic Shipping Northern Sea Route Traffic:
2011: 41 transits (16 international) 2012: 46 transits (27 international) 2013: 71 transits (28 international) 2014: 53 transits (31 international) 2015: 18 transits (international) 2016: 13 transits (international) 2017: 27 transits (international)
236 documented full transits of Northwest Passage 1906-2015 by 176 different vessels
7 trans-Arctic icebreaker voyages via North Pole (1991, 1994, 1996, 2005)
Transit traffic in 2017 was dominated by many foreign carriers: Hong Kong, Antigua & Barbuda, and St Kitts (3 each), China, Cyprus and Netherlands (2 each), Portugal, Liberia, Sierra Leone 1 each, with only 9 out of 27 vessels being Russian
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Arctic Destination Shipping Most shipping in the Arctic is either imports to or exports
from Arctic ports Major increase in cargo in NSR from/to Russian ports in
2017 NSR Information Office: As of November 15, 2017 more
than 300 different vessels have operated on the route conducting more than 1800 voyages to and from 94 different destinations along the route. This compares to 1705 voyages during all of 2016. The vast majority of vessels, as in previous years, operated under Russian flag, with 75 vessels flying foreign flags. Russian cabotageproposal, to require exports from Russian ports to be carried on Russian flag ships
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Law Applicable to Arctic Shipping Law of the Sea Convention, 1982 IMO Instruments, including amendments to SOLAS,
MARPOL and STCW, 2016 Polar Code Arctic 8 Agreements
Arctic Search and Rescue, 2011 Arctic Oil Pollution, 2013 Arctic Scientific Cooperation, 2017
Arctic 5 Agreements Polar Bears, 1973, 2000 Ilulissat Declaration, 2008
Central Arctic Ocean Fishing Agreement, 2018 Svalbard (Spitzbergen) Treaty, 1920
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MEPC 73 Arctic Actions Measures to reduce risks of use and carriage of
HFO as fuel in Arctic waters Ban already exists in Antarctic waters MSC 73/9 documents forward to PPR 6 to finalize
impact assessment methodology MEPC 73/WP.1 section 9
Noted PPR 5 action on measurement studies of impact on the Arctic of black carbon emissions from shipping (MEPC 73/WP.1 para 5.3)
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MSC 100 Arctic Issues Proposals to tailor mandatory safety measures for
non-SOLAS ships operating in polar waters based on Polar Code chapters 9-11, SOLAS chapter V and sections of chapter 1 of Part I-A MSC 100/7 (Canada and New Zealand) MSC 1007/1 (Canada)
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Arctic Council Formed in 1996 Mandate is to promote cooperation, coordination and
interaction on common Arctic issues, particularly environmental protection and sustainable development
Security is specifically excluded from its mandate Members are Canada, Denmark (Greenland,
Faroes), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (Arctic 8)
Six Permanent Participants representing indigenous peoples
Functions through 6 working groups13
National Legislation Implementing Polar Code Canada and Russia – Article 234 These will be addressed by subsequent speakers
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China’s Arctic Policy China’s Arctic Policy, developed since 2015, first
published January 2018 by PRC State Council Information Office
Policy goals: understand, protect, develop and participate in Arctic governance (Section III)
Purpose of goals: Safeguard common interests of all states and
international community in the Arctic Promote sustainable development of the Arctic Section III explains how China to meet those goals Participate in Arctic affairs through “respect, cooperation,
win-win result and sustainability”15
Summary of Policy (2) Recognizes applicable international law governs Arctic
affairs, including LOS Convention (Sections I-IV) Recognizes territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction of
Arctic eight member States and rights of non-Arctic states (Sections I, III, IV.1-3, 5)
Acknowledges rights of Arctic indigenous peoples (Section III, IV.3(4))
Claims status as a “near-Arctic state” and as an “important stakeholder in Arctic affairs” (Section II)
States China’s readiness to advance Arctic-related cooperation “under the Belt and Road Initiative” (Sections II, IV.4 and Conclusion)
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China’s Arctic Activities Scientific research stations on Svalbard (2004), Northern
Greenland and northern Iceland (2016) 40% investment in Russia’s Yamal LNG plant Guidebook for Chinese Shipping in NSR published 2014 Cosco ship Yongsheng transited Arctic from China to the
Netherlands via NSR three times since 2012 First polar icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) transited
Arctic in 2012 and in 2017 via NWP and conducted MSR in 2018
Second polar icebreaker Xjuelong 2 launched 10 Sept 2018 (see Lawson Brigham in Arctic Yearbook 2018)
Increased Chinese tourism, e.g. to Yellowknife Building polar expedition cruise ship
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Status of NSR and NWP Legal status of NSR and NWP not directly addressed
in China’s Arctic Policy White paper emphasizes freedom of navigation and
right to use Arctic shipping routes Policy to develop Arctic shipping routes and conduct
commercial trial voyages (section IV.3(1)) Canada worried most whether China will adopt
USA/EC position that NWP is strait used for international navigation vs Canada’s position as internal Canadian waters
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Resources Roach, A Guide to Arctic Issues for Arctic Council
Observers, February 2017, https://cil.nus.edu.sg/publication/a-guide-to-arctic-issues-for-arctic-council-observers/
Governance of Arctic Shipping: Balancing Rights and Interests of Arctic States and User States, edited by Robert C Beckman, Tore Henriksen, Kristine DalakerKraabel, Erik J Molenaar and J Ashley Roach, Brill 2017
China’s 2016 Observer Activities Report, http://hdl.handle.net/11374/1860
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Resources (2) PRC State Council Information Office, China’s Arctic
Policy, First Edition January 2018, http://english/gov.en/archive/white_paper/2018/01/omtemt_28146026660336.htm
PRC National Development and Reform Commission and State Oceanic Administration, Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, 20 June 2017, http://xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/20/c_13680414.htm
Nong Hong, China’s Interests in the Arctic: Opportunities and Challenges—Examining the implications of China’s Arctic policy white paper, Institute for China-America Studies, 1 March 2018, http://chinaus-icas.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018.03.06-China-Arctic-Report.pdf
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Resources (3) Mark E. Rosen, “China’s New Arctic Policy Needs
Close Analysis,” IPP Review, 20 April 2018, https://ippreview.com/index.php/Blog/single/id/691.html
Dr. Nengye Liu, “Will China be Green in the Arctic?”, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, MAREX, 22 April 2018, https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/will-china-be-green-in-the-arctic#gs.DdyxZeo
Arctic Yearbook 2018, section VII: The Polar Silk Road & Arctic Maritime Development, https://issuu.com/arcticportal/docs/ay17_final_pdf_for_arctic_portal_oc
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Resources (4) UK, Beyond the Ice, UK policy towards the Arctic,
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697251/beyond-the-ice-uk-policy-towards-the-arctic.pdf
New USN Arctic Strategy due summer 2018, https://news.usni.org/2018/04/19/navy-to-release-arctic-strategy-this-summer-will-include-blue-water-arctic-operations?utm_source=USNI+News&utm_campaign=8e36b8a434-USNI_NEWS_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0dd4a1450b-8e36b8a434-230415401&mc_cid=8e36b8a434&mc_eid=bba18e7b1a; http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/20/c_137124941.htm
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Resources (5) Shipping in Polar Waters,
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/polar/Pages/default.aspx
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, http://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/clcs_home.htm
Arctic SAR Agreement, www.state.gov/documents/organization/205770.pdf
Arctic Oil Pollution Agreement, https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/264791.pdf
Arctic Scientific Cooperation Agreement, https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271057.pdf
Arctic Council, http://arctic-council.org/index.php/en/
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